Big scores were also recorded elsewhere as Roslyn-Wakari beat Grants Braes 4-0, Dunedin Technical beat Southern Spirit 3-0 in Invercargill, and Green Island beat Northern 2-0.
The hardest battle was between Mosgiel and Queenstown at Memorial Park, where Mike McGarry's home side had to fight back from being two goals down before winning 3-2.
Michael Abbott was Mosgiel's saviour, with a late goal that was worth three points.
"It was an absolute screamer," Mosgiel manager Sally Hicks said.
She rated Queenstown as a difficult side to play.
There was more Brazilian chat than English from the sidelines, and there was no doubt Queenstown would pick up its share of points this season, she said.
Morgan Day and veteran Phil Kelly scored Mosgiel's other goals.
Queenstown's Carlos Herrmann, who showed last season he was a natural goal-scorer, scored twice to give the Central Otago side its early advantage.
Robbie Deeley's hat trick spearheaded Caversham's 5-0 win against an outclassed Varsity side.
Coach Steve Fleming was happy with the result, but said the Tahuna Park surface was below an acceptable standard.
Varsity coach Terry Parle was pleased with his side's improved second-half performance, during which Kelechi Chinaemerem Osunwa hit the Caversham crossbar.
Aaron Burgess, last season's Golden Boot winner, needed a penalty in Invercargill to get on the scorecard, where he was joined by Andy Coburn and George Milne in Technical's 3-0 win.
The match was played in steady rain on a heavy pitch.
The Spirit may be more competitive when new British import Mark Caldow settles in under player-coach Barry Gardiner.
Grants Braes allowed Roslyn too much space at the Caledonian Ground and paid the penalty as speedster Sam Green scored twice.
His second was spectacular as he drifted square then laced a 30m shot into the top left corner of the Braes goal.
Roslyn's other two goals came from a flying header by James Watson and a breakaway by Peter Rae, who had enough chances to score a hat trick.
Grants Braes had some decent performers in defender Liam Lockhart, midfielder Peter Alcock, Terry Saunders and Shannon Cox.
Green Island's opening goal against Northern in the late game at the Caledonian was more than impressive, Cody Robinson diving full length to bullet a low header past keeper Nick Grant.
Northern impressed in the pre-season tournament but coach Malcolm Fleming had his Island side tackling ferociously and killing space to stymie Northern's attack.
Island keeper Dan Clarkson was impressive in goal.
In a strong finish, Green Island's youngsters might have added more goals than the one scored by midfield powerhouse Dan Rutter, which sealed the result.
